Birds of Killyleagh
What has actually been seen around Killyleagh: 143 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 143 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 1,726 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-headed Gull
- Busiest month
- October
- Elevation
- 11 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.2 h / 7.3 h
What the records say about Killyleagh
143 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Killyleagh (Newry Mourne and Down) since 2010, across 1,726 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-headed Gull, Robin and Mallard.
Water shapes this list. 54% of records near Killyleagh are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, Mallard and European Herring Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Robin is still the most logged garden bird.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in October and are lowest in August — about 3.9 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and winter visitors), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.
Portaferry, 7 km to the east, has a similar number of species on record (140 against 143). Birds logged far more often around Killyleagh than there include Little Grebe, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon and Great Crested Grebe.
Daylight runs from 17 h 14 min at midsummer to 7 h 18 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:22 in mid-April and 4:46 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Killyleagh
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 54 |
| 2 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 51 |
| 3 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 48 |
| 4 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 46 |
| 5 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 42 |
| 6 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 40 |
| 7 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 39 |
| 8 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 39 |
| 9 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 36 |
| 10 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 35 |
| 11 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 34 |
| 12 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 34 |
| 13 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 33 |
| 14 | Great TitParus major | 33 |
| 15 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 32 |
| 16 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 31 |
| 17 | Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope | 31 |
| 18 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 30 |
| 19 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 30 |
| 20 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 29 |
Records by month
What to put out in Killyleagh
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Newry Mourne and Down
What's arriving, what to feed and when to clean feeders, written for UK gardens. One email a month at most.
Nearby places
Frequently asked
What birds visit gardens in Killyleagh?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Killyleagh are Robin, Blue Tit, Hooded Crow, Woodpigeon and Blackbird, based on 1,726 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Killyleagh?
143 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Killyleagh?
Observation records peak in October and are lowest in August. Sunrise in late June is around 4:46.
Sources
- GBIF occurrence search (birds, class Aves, 2010 onward)
- GeoNames gazetteer (place, population, elevation)
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.